Archive for the 'News' Category
Goldfish Keychain Shocks RSPCA
Not the best day for the Beijing Olympics’ image. Someone in China, Qingdao (where the Olympic sailing event will take place) has made a heart-shaped novelty plastic keychain with a living goldfish inside and Huan Huan (one of the 5 official Beijing Olympics’ mascots) printed on it.
This marketing gimmick to earn a quick buck has struck many people as cruel and appalling as the goldfish has little room to swim in and with oxygen that will run out in the matter of hours. Also to note, this will most probably damage the Beijing Olympics’ image.
The RSPCA only had the following to say on it:
“The fish would survive just a few hours, and would be lucky to make it from the manufacturers to the point of sale. This product shows a shocking lack of respect for a living thing and should be withdrawn from sale. We are shocked and appalled. It is a gimmick and shows no respect for the animals at all. We can’t understand why anyone would want to buy such a thing.” - telegraph.uk
Just think of every one of those little goldfish suffocating and dying a slow painful death! I do hope the Beijing Olympic Committee or the local officials do something about it and do it quick! I’m sure no tourist going to China for the Beijing Olympics will be picking one of these up…
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Source:
Telegraph.uk via WeirdAsiaNews
Picture courtesy of telegraph.uk and picasa web
Robotic Japan?
Is Japan taking a step closer to make those sci-fi movies come true? By 2025, robots could fill 3.5 million jobs for the aging Japanese workforce.
By 2030, Japan’s workforce is expected to experience a 16% drop. The ‘ThinkTank‘, the Machine Industry Memorial Foundation believe solutions lies in their Japanese robots as a country that does not enjoy the idea of a large-scale immigration.
These robots are expected to reduce strains on the workforce by taking care of children, old people and housework. This will also save Japan an approximate 2.1 trillion yen ($21 billion) in elderly insurance!
However before thinking too far ahead Takao Kobayashi, who works on the Japanese workforce shortage problem state that there’s still much to be done:
“There’s the expensive price tag, the functions of the robots still need to improve, and then there are the mindsets of people.
People need to have the will to use the robots.” - Reuters
To convince you that Japan has what it takes, the picture above in one of the secretary robots invented by the Japanese. Oddly enough, this piece of news remind me of Ghost in the Shell…
Source:
Reuters
Pictures also courtesy of reuters
Kitty Death Camp in China
China isn’t the most animal-friendly nation. In fact, I’m advising all pets in China to get out, now! Just last year, China received alot of criticism for killing stray dogs throughout the country. Now they’re sending cats to death camps in Beijing in preparations for the Olympics. What next?
The Chinese government are doing this as they’re convince of the urban health risks which these animals hold. Well, with a cat population of 500,000 in Beijing, their government might just have a reason.
But is there no alternatives? Vaccinations to stop disease from spreading or transporting these cats to other parts of China are some suggestions. Heck, they could even have a cat adoption scheme for overseas animal lovers! Must there make these cats pay the ultimate price? I’m sure most tourist visiting Beijing for the Olympics would prefer to see cats strolling around then to see none and know that they’re in death camps…
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Source:
DailyMail.uk via asianoffbeat
Kimchi Going to Space
Not letting Japan outdo them with their paper planes or boomarangs, the Koreans are making space history too! And what better way to do it then with some Kimchi, their beloved national dish!
Where Koreans go, Kimchi goes too and space is no different!
So why make a big fuss over bringing some food into space? Well, it’s the first fermented vegetable dish to experience zero gravity! Apart from that, it’s because Kimchi is required to be fermented that it has been causing problems for Korean scientist and chefs alike. This is because fermentation creates bacteria and microbes that scientist fear will become harmful in space after mutating due to cosmis rays! Scientist solved the problem through special packages and some radiation.
Now who will get to sink their teeth into these primo space kimchi? Now, those honour falls on Ko San, a computer science engineer who is also South Korea’s first space traveler on Aprial 8 this year. He will be staying at the Internation Space Station doing research and sharing his kimchi with fellow astronauts.
Not only is Kimchi going to space, but thanks to the hardwork and research by Korea Food Research Institute, Kimchis can now have longer shelflife which was always a problem for Kimchi being exported - Kimchi is taking over the world!
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Source:
International Herald Tribune via Neatorma
Korea’s national treasure destroyed
Sungnyemun (Namdaemun or South Gate) was burnt down in a blaze yesterday! The South Gate also known as Korea’s number 1 national treasure resides in Seoul (South Korea’s Capital) and was burnt down in matter of hours last night by an arsonist.
The 600 year old gate is the biggest remaining castle gate in Korea which survived several wars including the Japanese invasion in 1592 and the Manchurian invasion in 1636.
Firefighters fought the blaze with ladders and fire hoses at 8:55 p.m. and by 10: 30 p.m. thought the fire was under control and focused on putting out smaller flames. But the blaze rekindled at 10:40 p.m. and burnt the roof out. It collapsed at 12:40 a.m. on Monday. At 12:00 a.m., firefighters belatedly tried to take the roof apart and douse the gate with water inside, but the effort failed and firefighters were reduced to watching the gate collapse while they sprinkled water around it at ground level. - Chosun ilbo
It will take several years to restore South Korea’s national trademark according to news naver via Marmot’s Hole. The gate was repaired in 1447 and its latest restoration/repair work was done in 1961-1963 after damages sustained in the Korean war.
I really wonder who would do such a thing and for what reason?
Source:
Chosun ilbo
Marmot’s Hole
Picture courtesy of Yonhap
Japan To Throw Boomerang In Space
The excitement never seem to end for the Japanese Space Programme. This time Astronaut Takao Doi, 53, will be attempting to throw a Boomerang inside the International Space Station, while his main purpose of the trip up into space in March is to lead the construction of a Japanese scientific testing room.
Astronaut Takao Doi will be throwing his Boomerang in space to see if it will return to him under a zero-gravity environment. My assumptions is (and I’m willing to hear your opinions) that the Boomerang will still fly back to its throwing spot as long as there’s air in its surrounding for it to propel through.
The idea of throwing a Boomerang in space came to Mr Doi when he received a request from Yasuhiro Togai, a world boomerang champion from the western Japanese metropolis of Osaka. Of course, with the request came training on throwing a Boomerang from the world champion too!
“Mr Doi said he will personally carry a paper boomerang for the upcoming mission and we presume he will try it when he has spare time,” said an official of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. - ABC News
But, I’m sure many will still find the Japanese origami plane from space more spectacular!
Source:
ABC News
Space-Travel
Photo Courtesy of science.ksc.gov
Japan’s Paper Plane From Space
Japan is taking the paper plane to where no paper plane has been before, into space! That’s right, SPACE! Adding new meaning to ’sky is the limit’, Japan aims to launch history’s first paper plane from outer space back to Earth! As improbable as it sounds, if anyone can do it, it’ll be the Japanese and their crazy origami skills and technology - University of Tokyo and the Japan folded paper plane association has teamed up for this and is led by Professor Shinji Suzuki of Tokyo University!
As exciting as it sounds, the paper plane that will be used is still to endure many more tests to prove its worth for it’s space travel capabilities, afterall it’ll be travelling at Mach 7 (8,600 km/hr) and temperature in the hundreds on re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
It all may sounds impossible but the outlook seems good as the prototype plane has survived a grilling 300 degrees and not get burn - some special A-Grade Japanese paper? The paper plane has also withstand mach 7 velocity for 10 seconds so far. The actual plane will be around 40 centimeters long and weigh about 30 grams, it will be launched 400km above Earth from the International Space Station in November this year.
One problem that the professor is experience is where the paper plane will land, so remember, November this year, look up to the sky; you just might be become the lucky owner of the first space paper plane! Japanese paper plane may I add!
The Japanese are going to try and throw Boomerangs in space too!
Source:
Mainichi
Picture courtesy of Flickr and Mainichi